In January, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) released the 2026 Infrastructure Report Card for North Carolina, their first state report card since 2013. The report provides an updated snapshot of infrastructure conditions as North Carolina continues to grow rapidly and compete for jobs, investment, and global market access.  

ASCE assigned North Carolina an overall grade of C-, indicating infrastructure systems that are generally functional but increasingly strained. The grade places North Carolina below the national average. However, taken in the national context, this reflects conditions common across many states facing aging infrastructure, rising demand, and increased exposure to extreme weather.  

At the system level, the report shows uneven performance across sectors. Aviation outperformed national benchmarks, reflecting sustained investment aligned with economic growth and global connectivity. Drinking water and stormwater systems also scored above national averages, supported by targeted state and federal funding. At the same time, roads and wastewater systems declined, while bridges remained flat and below national performance. The report underscores the magnitude of deferred needs across multiple systems, including billions of dollars required for dam rehabilitation and wastewater investment, as well as the growing pressure climate variability and extreme weather place on already aging infrastructure. Several categories, including rail and energy, were not graded in 2026, highlighting ongoing gaps in comprehensive, statewide assessment.  

These findings reinforce what North Carolina employers have consistently communicated through the NC Chamber Foundation’s research and engagement: infrastructure capacity, reliability, and resilience are now core determinants of economic competitiveness.  

The Foundation’s 2025 Water Infrastructure Competitiveness Analysis, informed directly by employers, utilities, and local leaders, identified growing risks tied to water and wastewater capacity, aging systems, and uneven investment across regions. Those risks extend beyond environmental concerns, affecting industrial recruitment, housing availability, workforce growth, and community resilience. Similarly, the Foundation’s Business-Driven Energy Vision outlined the need to modernize the electric grid, expand capacity, and plan proactively for long-term demand driven by manufacturing, data centers, and advanced technologies.  

“Infrastructure outcomes reflect long-term choices,” said Dana Magliola of the NC Chamber Foundation. “If North Carolina wants to stay competitive as we grow, we have to move from episodic fixes to sustained, strategic investment that aligns transportation, water, and energy with the state’s evolving economy.”  

As North Carolina continues to grow, the question is no longer whether infrastructure investment is needed, but whether decisions made today will anticipate future demand or create constraints that limit opportunity. The NC Chamber Foundation will continue to lead with employer-informed research and solutions to ensure infrastructure policy supports economic growth, project certainty, and prosperity across all regions of the state.